• (initially, single, slow strums of each chord)

  Well, you wake up in the mornin'

• You hear the work bell ring

• And they march you to the table

  You see the same old thing

• Ain't no food upon the table

• And no fork up in the pan

  But you'd better not complain, boy

• You'll get in trouble with the man

• (now speed up tempo and strum continuously; all subsequent verses have

  same pattern as chorus)

• Let the midnight special

• Shine the light on me

• Let the midnight special

  Shine the light on me

• Let the midnight special

• Shine the light on me

  Let the midnight special

• Shine the ever-lovin' light on me

• Verse 2:

  Yonder come Miss Rosie

  How in the world did you know

• By the way she wears her apron

  And the clothes she wore

  Umbrella on her shoulder

• Piece of paper in her hand

  She come to see the gov'nor

  She wanna free her man

• Verse 3:

  If you're ever in Houston

  Ooh, you'd better do right

• You'd better not gamble

  And you'd better not fight

  Or the sheriff will grab ya

• And the boys'll bring you down

  The next thing you know, boy

  Ooh, you're prison-bound

D G Well, you wake up in the mornin' D You hear the work bell ring A7 And they march you to the table D You see the same old thing G Ain't no food upon the table D And no fork up in the pan A7 But you'd better not complain, boy D You'll get in trouble with the man. G Let the midnight special D Shine the light on me A7 Let the midnight special D Shine the light on me G Let the midnight special D Shine the light on me A7 Let the midnight special. The Midnight Special Creedence Clearwater Revival Chords and Lyrics for Guitar. Search engine for finding guitar chords and guitar tabs.

Origins

Midnight Special Chords Johnny Rivers

A traditional American song, the first trace of Midnight Special in print is in 1905. The lyric, which is told from a prisoner's viewpoint, must have appealed to Huddy Ledbetter (better known, of course, as Lead Belly) who popularised the song. Lead Belly was himself a sometime convict and was, in fact, recorded singing the song whilst in jail during the 1930s. The Midnight Special of the title is a train. I would like to believe the rather romantic story that the passing train's light shone into prison cells near Houston, offering a hope of salvation. The other theory is that the cons would prefer to be run over by the train rather than spend the rest of their time in prison. Take your pick! Midnight Special is a much-recorded song. There is a skiffle version by Lonnie Donegan, and recordings by Credence Clearwater Revival, Harry Belafonte and Van Morrison, amongst others. Even the Beatles had a go at it. Its simple three chord structure makes it an ideal song for beginner guitarists to learn to play.

Chords

Midnight Special Chords - Johnny Rivers

Capo at 2nd Fret
Verse
G C G
“Yonder come Miss Rosie.” “How in the world do you know?”
D7 G
“Well I know her by the apron, and the dress she wore.”

C G
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand:

D7 G
“I'm gonna ask the governor, toe turn lose my man.”
Chorus
C G
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
D7 G
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.

Lyrics

“Yonder come Miss Rosie.” “How in the world do you know?”
“Well I know her by the apron, and the dress she wore.”
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand:
“I'm gonna ask the governor, toe turn lose my man.”
Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
When you get up in the morning, when that big bell ring,
You go and march to the table, you see the same damn thing:
Knife and fork are on the table, there's nothing in my pan,
And if you say anything about it, you’re having trouble with the man.

Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Well I went to the nation and to the territory;
I thought about the girl I love, in that Mexico.

Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
If you ever go to Houston, oh you better walk right,
And you better not squallow and you better not fight;
Sheriff Rocko will arrest you, Eddie Boone will take you down.
You can bet your bottom dollar, you’re penitentiary bound.

Midnight Special Chords Willie Watson

Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.
Well jumping little Judy, she was a mighty fine girl.
Judy brought jumping to this whole round world.
Well she brought it in the morning, just a while before day,
She brought me the news that my wife was dead.
That started me to grieving, then hollering and crying,
Then I had to give the worry about a been a long time.

Let the midnight special, shine the light on me;
Let the midnight special, shine the ever loving light on me.

Midnight Special Chords And Lyrics

Other American Folk Songs
Other Traditional Folk Songs